Latch mechanism



G. A. MONTOOTH ET AL LATCH MECHANISM Original Filed March 26, 1946 April 17, 1956 FIG.

IN VENTOR ale FIG. 2

GEORGE A. MONTOOTH ALBERT M. BOWEN TTORNEYS CaliL, assignors to The IBmnsivlck-Bnlke-Collender Company f United tar q h w Original applicationMarch 26, I946, lSefinl No. $57,238,

mow Patent No. 256973605, dated'lDecember ,21, 11954.

Divided and this application .Eebmary Z, 11952,, Serial .No. 270,312 '11 Claims. (81.74-5527! The present invention relates to -latching mechanisms .for la'tching one member to another.

This is a division oi applicantsipiior application Serial Number 6'57,23'8,'fi1ed March '26,, 194 now Patent No. 2,697,605, issued December 21, 1954.

The primary object of the inventionfis to provide a new and improved latch which is'moyahle between "latchin g and non-latching positions solely any relative movement between .the latch and the member "to'bell'atched thereto and thus self-latching. 3

Another object of the invention is to provide aftiltable latch which is operable solely by relative movement 'be- .tween the latch and the member to'beflatched, wherein the latch is pivotally mounted in an elongated slot and is .tilted by means ofan over-center. spring. i

Other objects will become apparent from 'the following has been disclosed above.

, I 2,741,930 PatentedApn. 17, 1956 we CC 2 t ing 283, the latch is returned to the C position by the spring 304a.

Now when the sleeve 290 is moved downwardly with respect to the bearing "283, the latch engages the notch 283a in the bearing to latch the sleeve and bearing together. At the same time, this latching shifts the pivot pin 302 in the notch 3.03 so that the parts are in position A.

If the sleeve is again moved upwardly with respect'to bearing 283, "this releases the latch and the spring 304a pivots the latch to the B position. With the latch in this position, on subsequent downward movement of the sleeve with respect to the bearing, cam or throw lug 289a engages the bearing to reposition the pivot pin 302 in the D position, and .on further downward movement of the sleeve, the parts return to the C position.

One structural environment for the latch mechanism Another is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. 'In these figures, fingers 317a and 317b are moved up and ,down together by means not shown, and the bar 316a is to be latched thereto. The bar 316a is provided with two latches 331 and 332. .These latches description taken in connection with' 'theaccompanying drawings, in which: p p

Figure 1 shows agroup oi fourvertical sectional views of a latch exemplifying the invention and in various positions. thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side'view showing another application of'the latching mechanism of this invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view as .taken on linef3- -3 of Figure 2.

While there is shownlin'the drawings'and hereinafter described in detail a preferred form' of the invention, it ;:1

is to be understood "that the invention is not limited to the particular form and arrangement shown. Itis con- "templated that various changes may he gnradeby those skilled in the art without departing ffromfthej'spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

In the prior application referred to above, of which this is 'a divisional application, the invention is illustrated in connectionwith an automatic "pin setter of type disclosed therein, although it will be apparent "that the on movement of the fingers downwardly, the finger 317a engages the upper, surface of both latch lugs to pivot thelatches to positions corresponding to position D in Fig.1 When the finger 317a passes both latches, they return to the Cyposit'ion, the fingersnow being below the la'tches. On upward movement, thefiriger 317a engagesthe -latch lug of the lower latch 331 to shift its pivot pin in its slot as shownin Fig. 31.10 the position corresponding to position A of Fig. 1. After a subsequent downward movement of the fingers, on a succeeding upward movement, the finger 317a engages the latch lug of 1atch332 to shift its pivot pin in its slot. Latch 332 is only slightly above latch 331 since too great a distance in the relative positions of the latches would cause a shifting of latch 331 to latching position C by engagement of finger 31772 with its camor throw lug.

After a subsequent downward movement, on a succeeding movement upwardly, finger 317a passes both latch lugs, bu't finger 3117b engages 'both throw lugs to latches, :theyare returnedto the C positions by the springs.

invention in the sameor in other forms may be readily embodied in other machines Where automaticself-latching is desired. Referring now to -Fig. l, in a preferred "form, a s eeve 290 is slidably mounted for back aiidforthmovement in a rigid annular "bearing or 'collar 28 3i 1 Adath 289 is arranged within the sleeve 290. The sleeve is provided with two apertures 290a and 290b, respectively, through which a latch lug 291 and 'athrow or lug'289a may protrude. The bearing 283 is provided with a notch "283a to co-operate with the latch lug 291.

The various positions "of iatdh '289 are attained through i the medium of a pivot 302 slidalile in atransverse slot 303 in sleeve 290 and an over cent'erfspring 305a by means of which the latchis 'held'in tilted position in either latching or non-latching position.

Four-positions of the latch are shown in Fig; 1, namely positions A, B, C, and D. Assuming the parts'are in the C position, on movement-of the sleeve 290 upwardly with respect to the bearing 283, the upper surface 'of the latch lug 291engages the bearing 283th pivot latch to the D position. After fhe' l'atch lug pesses "by the hear- It is thusclearly seen that we have devised a novel latch mechanism which engages a movable member on one stroke'of said member and which will not engage :on the subsequent stroke of said member and which is operable solely by relative movement between the parts.

.We claim:

ll A latch mechanism comprising an annular member having a, notch in its upper surface, ,a tubular member slidable up and=down within the other member and having opposetl side wall apertures which move from a posifti'on above' to a position *below the annular member in "operation of a device with which the latch mechanismis associated, a transverse slot in the tubular member located below said side wall apertures, a latchdevice having a body portion located Within said tubular member and carrying a pivot pin at the lower side engaging in said transverse slot, a spring member connected at its upper end to theflateh device and at its lower end 'tQSaid tubular 'mernberibelowthe .m'id portion of said slot, a lug -extending from one side of the top of the body portion throughone of said sidewall apertures and adapted'ior te'ngagement in said notch, and acarn lug extending from "theother side of the top of the body 'portionand through are the same as the latch 289 in (Fig. 1 and are vertically the other side wall aperture for cam engagement with said annular member.

2. Mechanism for latching a first element to a second element which lies on two sides of and moves relative to the first element, comprising an elongated slot in the first element extending substantially normal to the direction of relative movement between said first and second elements, a latch element comprising a body portion having a pivot pin slidable in said slot, a tapered downwardly inclined latch lug and an upwardly inclined throw lug on said body portion for shifting said pivot pin and an overcenter spring for tilting the latch lug into latching relation with said second element when said pivot has been shifted by the throw lug.

3. Mechanism for latching a first member to a second member wherein the first member havin an elongated slot lies within and moves relative to the second member, said slot extending substantially normal to the direction of relative movement between said first and second members comprising latch means including a body portion having a pivot pin slidable in said slot, :1 tapering downwardly inclined latch lug and an upwardly inclined throw lug on said body portion for shifting said pivot pin, and spring means for withdrawing the latch lug from latching position.

4. Mechanism for latching a first member to a second member wherein the first member lies within and moves relative to the second member, comprising an elongated slot in the first member extending transversely to the direction of relative movement between said first and second members, latch means comprising a body portion having a pivot pin slidable in said slot, a tapering downwardly inclined latch lug on said body portion, an upwardly inclined throw lug on said body portion for shifting said pivot pin and an over-center spring for tilting the latch lug into latching relation'with said second element when said pivot has been shifted by the throw lug. 5. Mechanism for latching a first member to a second member wherein the first member lies within and moves relative to the second member, comprising an elongated slot in the first member, said slot extending transversely of the direction of relative movement between the members, latch means comprising a body portion having a pivot 1 pin at one end slidable in said slot, inclined latch lug extending from one side of the other end of the body portion and an upwardly inclined throw lug for shifting said pivot pin extending from the opposite side of said other end, a notch in said second member and over-center spring means for tilting the latch lug into latching relation with the notch in said second member when said pivot has been shifted by the throw lug.

6. .A latch mechanism comprising a member having a notch portion and a camming surface, an elongated member mounted Within said first member for move ment relative thereto and having an elongated slot positioned transverse to the direction of relative movement, a latch having a body portion, a pivot pin carried by the a tapering downwardly 'lower part of said body portion and slidable in said slot,

a latch lug extending from an upper side of the body portion and shaped to engage the notch in said first member and to shift said pivot pin in said slot in one direction upon such engagement, a throw lug extending from the opposite side of said body portion and engageable by the camming surface for shifting said pivot pin in another direction and an over-center spring connected between the upper part of the body portion and said second member at a point below and between the ends of the elongated slot' for tilting the latch about the pivot.

7. A latch mechanism comprising a first member carrying a latch and a second member to be engaged by the latch, said latch having a body portion including a pivot pin slidable in a slot extending laterally in said first member, a latch lug extending from one side of the body portion, a throw lug extending from the other side of the 7 body portion, said second member having a camming surface for engagement with the throw lug to shift said pivot pin in said slot to place the latch lug in latching position, said second member also having a latch lug engaging portion for latching of one member to the other and for shifting the pivot as a result thereof and an over-center spring connected between the upper'part of said latch body portion and the first member at a point below the slot for maintaining the latch in latching position after said camming surface has shifted said latch and for tilting said latch away from latching position after it has been released.

8. A latch mechanism comprising a first member carrying a latch and a'second member to be engaged by the latch, said latch having a body portion including a pivot pin slidable in a slot extending laterally in said first memher. a latch lugextending from one side of the body portion, a throw lug extending from the other side of the body portion, said second member having means for engagement with the throw lug to shift said pivot pin in said slot to place the latch lug in latching position, said second member also having means for engaging the latch lug and for shifting the pivot pin as a result thereof, and an over-center spring connected between the upper part of said body portion and the first member at a point below the slot for maintaining the latch in latching position after said camming surface has shifted said latch and for tilting said latch away from latching position after it has been released.

9. A latch mechanism comprising a pair of fingers movable back and forth in'a path of movement, a member mounted between said fingers and having an elongated slot therein which extends in a direction transverse to said path of movement, latch means including a body portion having a pivot pin slidable in said slot, a latch lug extending from one upper side of said body portion, spring means for urging the latch lug into engaging position with one of said fingers and allowing pivotal movement of the latch as said finger moves downwardly by the latch lug into engaging position, said latch lug being so shaped that upon engagement with said finger the pivot pin is shifted in said slot, said spring means being connected to said second member below the mid-point of the slot so that release of the latch will permit the spring means to ,swing the latch lug out of latching position, a cam lug extending from the other upper side of the body portion and positioned to be engaged by the second of said fingers upon upward movement thereof for shifting the pivot pin in said slot and thus allowing said spring means to return the latch lug to latching position.

10. A latch device for controlling the relative back and forth movement between first and second elements comprising a slot in the first element, a latch member having a pivot pin shiftable in said slot, an over-center spring for pivoting said latch member about said pivot pin in a directiondependent upon the position of said pin in said slot, a first cam surface on said latch member adapted to engage thesecond element on relative movement in one direction to pivot said latch member in opposition to the spring, a latch surface on said latch member adapted to engage the second element on a succeeding relative movement in .the other direction to latch the elements and shift said pivot pinin said slot, the spring pivoting said latch member when released on a succeeding relative movement in said one direction, a second cam surface on said latch member adapted to engage the second element on a sucseeding relative movement in the other direction to reposition said pin in said slot.

ll. A latch device for controlling movement of one element with respect to another comprising an elongated slot in one element, said slot extending substantially norrnal to the direction of relative movement between said elements,:a latch member having a pivot pin mounted in said slot, a latch lug extending from one side of the latch .member and a throw lug extending from the opposite side of the latch memberadapted on relative movement of said elements to shift said pivot pin to opposite extreme positions in said slot, and an over-center spring connected to said latch member for tilting the latch member in either of opposite directions, depending on the position of the 1 6 Dement Oct. 14, 1902 Rowe Oct. 17, 1916 Mooney Sept. 3, 1935 De Boer et a1. Aug. 27, 1940 James Mar. 25, 1952 Montooth et a1 Dec. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Jan. 15, 1952 

